How to network like it’s your job

How to network like it’s your job
By Sarah-Richelle Lemas

Pinky swear, navigating the career fair seas isn’t as bad as it seems. Photo by yngrich on Flickr, licensed under the Creative Commons.

The word Networking makes me queasy. Talking to people for the sole purpose of advancing my career seems, well, kind of shady. And on top of the sleaze factor, I’m not the most outgoing girl. Walking into a room of people I don’t know usually leads to an awkward conversation or two (or three, or four). I almost considered leaving the last career fair I attended before I even went in.

In reality, Networking doesn’t have to be scary. Like a lot of other students (and adults), I build it up in my head to make it worse than it is. After all, anything that helps you land a job or internship can’t be that awful. The connections you make today could lead to a gig this summer or even help you pull off a career move five years from now. So it’s time to suck it up and start networking. Here are some tips from the pros on how to network like a rock star.

Use your off-the-job social skills

Being a great networker is a bit like being a great date. First off, it’s important to listen. People love to talk about themselves. Asking pointed questions makes you seem inquisitive and it shows genuine interest. If nothing else, it takes a lot of the pressure off of you.

Think of networking as more than a 20-second conversation at a career fair.

“Networking is a relationship-based activity,” says career coach and entrepreneur Carol Ross, who graduated from McCormick in 1983 and received a master’s degree from Northwestern in ‘87. “It is not a transaction. People think, ‘I need to network when I look for a job.’ But the most successful networkers are doing it throughout their life, whether they need a job or not.”

Ross even knows a friend who chats up people in the grocery store line. Networking means building connections with people around you, even if it’s not at a career event. You never know who may help you in the future. And make sure to keep in touch with contacts. You can’t build a relationship if you have only talked to someone once.

Show that you’re interesting

“Tell me about yourself” is a dreaded but typical question at networking events. Instead of panicking, Rob Sullivan, who got his Master’s degree from Medill in 1990 and is the author of Getting Your Foot in the Door When You Don’t Have a Leg to Stand On, recommends that you have a short speech ready that shows three things: passion, initiative and resourcefulness.

“Those three qualities have one magical thing in common,” Sullivan says. “I can’t teach you any of those things. I can’t send you to ‘Enthusiasm University’ to get excited about a job.”

Simply stating your hometown, family members and career aspirations won’t make you stand out. Instead, brag about yourself a non-obvious way, Sullivan says.

From what Sullivan told me, here’s something I think you could say: “My name is John and I have wanted to be a doctor since I was ten years old. When I was ten I was in a life threatening car accident but an excellent surgeon saved my life. Inspired by that situation I decided I wanted to be an ER doctor. In high school I volunteered at a hospital and looked for doctors to shadow. During college I majored in biology, did research at a lab on campus and interned with paramedics over the summer.”

The story makes you memorable because it is unique to you and it demonstrates those three qualities without simply giving someone a boring laundry list of accomplishments.

Beyond Facebook: online Networking

College students hear a lot about what not to do online. By now we understand that potential employers do not want to see us in the throes of a drunken escapade. But in terms of networking, being comfortable online works to your advantage. After you amp up the security settings on your Facebook page, start networking on the Web.

Assume that potential employers will Google you. If nothing comes up, there are things you can do to add to your Web presence. Lindsey Pollak, author of Getting From College to Career: 90 Things to Do Before You Join the Real World, recommends setting up a LinkedIn account. Since it’s meant for purely professional interests, you can start building up your business contacts there.

She also suggests using the Internet to showcase your interests. If you like books, write reviews on Amazon.com. If you’re into sports, post on your favorite sports blog.

“You don’t want to fake it because that will come through,” Pollak says. “You just want to show that you are an involved person, an active contributor, not just sitting at home playing video games.”

Career Services is here for you

Pollak also says one of the easiest things you can do is to make use of the free resources on campus. If you are nervous about networking, you can contact UCS and ask to meet with an internship specialist, an employment specialist or a career counselor. They can even help you practice certain networking situations.

“We are not scary,” says Tracie Thomas, assistant director for programming and career counselor at University Career Services. “We are here to help you with any career needs that you have … We want to help as many students as much as we possibly can with networking, with finding an internship, or finding a full time job.”

If you are looking for convenience, Thomas suggests visiting their walk-in hours on Thursdays and Fridays from 11-3 p.m. in the Main Library in Core. And if you want to make the trek up north, their offices are located at 620 Lincoln St.

“We always joke in the office that we are worth the walk,” she says.

Where to network

There are plenty of networking events on campus and off. UCS lists job fairs and other events on its Web site along with a page dedicated to networking. The Northwestern Alumni Association’s web page also has its own networking page. Even better, make use of their online directory. Look up alums that are in your field and contact them to see if they would be willing to meet up and talk about what they do. You can also find alums on the Northwestern LinkedIn Group.

“If you impress them, there is a really good chance that that could turn into something,” Sullivan says. “You have transformed yourself from a name on a page to a living breathing person who seems kind of interesting.”

Another option is to look at professional organizations in your field. If there is a local chapter, they may have social events you can attend. Many organizations hold conferences every year for their members, which is a great way to meet contacts on a larger scale. UCS can help you identify these organizations.

And if you’re willing to go to other campuses, sometimes career fairs are open to students from other colleges. Check the career services Web sites of Chicago area schools to see if there are any upcoming events.